Communication device and communication method

Abstract

A communication device is provided in a wireless multi-hop network. The communication device receives a sequence number, a divided time acquired by dividing a time width allocated for transmitting detected usage data by a division number, and the division number. The communication device calculates a remainder by dividing the received sequence number by the division number and calculates a transmission offset time based on the remainder and the divided time. The communication device transmits the usage data based on the calculated transmission offset time.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication device provided in a wireless multi-hop network, the communication device comprising:
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute a process including: 
 receiving a sequence number, a divided time acquired by dividing a time width allocated for transmitting detected usage data by a division number, and the division number; 
 calculating a remainder by dividing the received sequence number by the division number and calculating a transmission offset time based on the remainder and the divided time; and 
 transmitting the detected usage data based on the calculated transmission offset time. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication device according to  claim 1 , the process further including cancelling transmission of a control signal until the time width allocated to the communication device for transmitting the detected usage data elapses from a meter-reading time. 
     
     
       3. The communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detected usage data is data on power consumption. 
     
     
       4. A communication device provided in a wireless multi-hop network, the communication device comprising:
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute a process including: 
 receiving a sequence number, a divided time acquired by dividing a time width allocated for transmitting detected usage data by a division number, the division number, and a predetermined time period shorter than the divided time; 
 calculating a quotient and a remainder by dividing the received sequence number by the division number and calculating a transmission offset time based on the product of the remainder and the divided time and on the product of the quotient and the predetermined time period; and 
 transmitting the detected usage data based on the calculated transmission offset time. 
 
     
     
       5. The communication device according to  claim 4  the process further including cancelling transmission of a control signal until the time width allocated to the communication device for transmitting the detected usage data elapses from a meter-reading time. 
     
     
       6. The communication device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detected usage data is data on power consumption. 
     
     
       7. A communication method executed by a communication device provided in a wireless multi-hop network, the communication method comprising:
 receiving a sequence number, a divided time acquired by dividing a time width allocated for transmitting detected usage data by a division number, and the division number; 
 calculating a remainder by dividing the sequence number received at the receiving by the division number and calculating a transmission offset time based on the remainder and the divided time; and 
 transmitting the usage data based on the transmission offset time calculated at the calculating.